Switch stand



W. S. NEWHALL SWITCH STAND Sept. 15, 1936.

4 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1955- INVENTOR. 75% Wwflwg 712A ATTORNEYS Sep 15, 19 w. s. NEWHALL SWITCH STAND Filed May 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,054,758 swrrcn STAND Walter S. Newhall, Chagrin Falls, Ohio Application May 13, 1935, Serial No. 21,150 11- Claims. (01. 246-405) This invention relates to a railway switch stand of the type employing a horizontal spiral cam coacting with a longitudinally shiftable bar connected to the switch points, a half rotation of such cam throwing the switch from one position to the other. Mechanism between the cam and the banner mast, which carries-the signal or lamp, automatically turns such mast for each throw of the switch. Such type of switch stand, being located adjacent the ground, is susceptible to damage, as by reason of some object falling oii a passing train or projecting from said a train or by being struck by a moving body or vehicle at a highway crossing,

It is an object of my invention to so devise a switch stand of this type that it shall be as little as possible subjected to dangers of external injury or obstruction. In my switch stand, the entire mechanism both for operating the slide bar and for turning the banner mast is entirely protected by the frame of the stand. At the same time I have been able to reduce the size'of the frame and make it more compact, rendering it less liable to breakage, while reducing the expense of construction. 1

Another object of my invention is to so devise the stand that may be readily converted from a right-hand to a left-hand stand, using the same frame and most of the operating parts, a lefthand spiral cam being substituted for the righthand. This enables the switch stand to take care of switches extending in either direction from the track and still enables'the switch operating lever to be located as desired and the slide bar on its connection with the switch points maintained in tension to keep a snug connection between the active switch point and the adjacent rail.

The particular characteristics of my switch stand by which I accomplish the objects above referred to will be more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of the switch stand complete; Fig. 2 is an end view thereof; Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections through the switch stand in broken planes substantially as indicated by the lines 33 and 44 on Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section through the center of the stand; Figs. 6 and '7 are views of the operating cam when the spiral groove extends in the direction for a so-called right-hand switch stand; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but shows a cam for a left-hand stand; Fig. 9 is a plan of a modified form of stand intended for use with a comparatively tall banner mast; Fig. 10 is a sectional end elevation of thestand shown in Fig.

.9; Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating a track layout, embodying my right and left-hand switch stands. a

As shown in Figs.,l to 5 inclusive, the frame of the switch stand comprises primarily a single integral casting Iii having an approximately cylindrical barrel II and laterally extending wing portions l2 and l 3 forming a base. On each side the base frame l2 has an inclined portion [4 connecting it with an intermediate region of the barrel and on each side identical provision is made for carrying the banner mast as hereinafter explained. The two base portions I2 and I3 are l5 fiat on their undersides and adapted to rest on two ties between which the slide bar 50 operates.

As is customary in switch stands of this-type, the barrel is closed by an end plate 20, held in place by bolts 2| mounted in cavities in the main. casting and projecting therefrom and nuts screw ing on the bolts. Mounted within the barrel I0 is a spiral'cam 3%] which is cast about a shaft 32 journalled in the plate 20 and in the main casting and having at its end an angular portion 33 to which is secured an operating lever .40. Slidably mounted in' the main casting beneath the cam 33 is a slide bar 56 carrying a roller 5| occupying the groove 35 of the cam. Accordingly,

the movement of the operating lever from its 30 position as shown in Fig. '1 through to the opposite position gives the cam a half rotation and moves the slide bar 50 from one extreme position drical for the major portion and closely houses the cam 36, as illustrated in Fig. 5. At the lower' portion of the cylindrical cavity there is a. channel shaped portion having substantially vertical walls I5 and a bottom web l6. On the inner faces of these walls are ledges H on which slidably rest the fiat slide bar 50. This makes an effective support and guide for the slide bar and a 50 clearance space for dirt beneath it. This clearance space is opened by an orifice 58 through the base web l6.

The cam engaging roller 5l is rotatably mounted on a stud 52 carried by the slide bar 50. The 55 stud is shown as passing through the slide bar and is shown as peened over on its lower end but may be attached in other manner.

Since my switch stand is convertible for right or left-hand operation, I make provision for mounting the banner mast on either side of the cam housing and in either case connect it with the slide bar. To this end I form on each side of the frame a hollow vertical boss and below that an inwardly projecting horizontal web H. The web and boss have aligned bearing openings as shown. The mast 60 is shown in Fig. 5 as having a reduced portion 6| journalled in the openings of the boss and. web at the left-hand of the cam housing, while the opening in the boss at the right-hand is closed by a suitable plug cap 65. In case of the left-hand switch stand, the banner mast and plu cap would be interchanged.

To give the mast a quarter-turn consequent upon a half rotation of the cam, I secure a crank arm 80 rigidly to the lower end of the mast and -I connect this arm with a bar 99 which is tightly secured to the slide bar.

As shown, the crank 89 embraces a squared portion 61 of the mast and is rigidly held in place by the peened-over lower end of the mast though the attachment may be in any other manner desired. This crank carand has a downwardly projecting rib 92 engaging the edge of the slide bar and the two bars are rigidly held together by the roller pin 52.

This pin has a shoulder engaging the upper end of the lateral bar 99 and when the lower end of the pin is secured the lateral bar is tightly held to the slide bar.

The bar 99 extends from the slide bar at right angles thereto through ahorizontal slot 95 formed in the main casting ID. This slot is of sufficient height to readily accommodate the lateral bar as shown in Fig. 5. Identical slots are formed in the opposite walls of the slide bar housing so that the lateral bar may extend in either direction through one slot or the other as desired. The portion of the switch stand frame beneath the slots is thoroughly braced by the webs H) of the housing which extend beneath such lower portion.

It will be seen that the cam and roller are entirely housed within the barrel of the frame and that the adjacent channel of the frame provides an effective guide and protection for the slide bar and part of the banner operating bar 90. This latter bar extends from the slide bar outside of the housing for'the cam and switch bar, but it will be noticed that it is directly beneath the side frame [4 of the main frame and protected thereby. This protection applies also to the crank 80. The result is that without enlarging the housing for the cam I have so arranged the connecting mechanism to the banner mast that it cannot be struck by anything dropped from a passing train or obstructed by snow or ice.

As the frame portion I3 rests on and is secured to a tie, a portion of the crank 80 may be over such tie. The rest of the crank and the projecting portion of the bar 99 beyond the cam housing is, in effect, housed between the end webs [9 of the frame adjacent the tie. Accordingly, when the switch stand is mounted not only are the cam and roller for the slide bar entirely housed within the frame, but the banner operating mechanism is also in effect housed. Nevertheless, I accomplish this without having to provide a large hollow casing enclosing the cam and entire operative mechanism. 5

As heretofore stated, Fig. 5 illustrates the switch stand as a right-hand stand, the cam being of the form shown in Fig. 7. In case of a left-hand stand, the frame is identical but the cam would be of the form shown in Fig. 8. The lateral bar 10 90 would extend through the right-hand slot in the slide bar housing; the mast would occupy the right-hand boss 10 and its crank would connect with the lateral bar extending in that direction. I

prefer to make up the complete switch stand either as a right-hand stand or left-hand stand in the shop and peen over the lower ends of the cam roller pin and the mast to make permanent connections. However, if desired, the pin and mast may simply extend below the slide bar and crank respectively and receive cotter pins or other fastening means, and in that case the change from right to left-hand stand may be readily effected in the field.

In assembling the parts, the slide bar 59 may .25

be put in place, the banner operating bar 99 passed through the. slot, and the pin 52 installed through the bar 90 and the slide bar. Then the lower end of the pin may be peened over by means of a suitable tool passed through the opening 58 in the base plate IS, the pin at such time being held in registration with the opening, or a cotter pin installed, if that type of fastener is employed. The crank 80 carrying the roller 83 may be readily installed by placing the roller in the slot of the bar 90 and mounting the crank on the mast 66 and peening over the lower end of such mast, which is accessible on the underside of the frame, or applying cotter pins thereto. The roller 5| is then placed on the pin 52, and the cam may be passed into the open barrel I i so that its slot embraces the roller 5| and the shaft 32 passes to the outside through the hub at the end of the barrel. Then the cap plate 20 may be mounted at the other end of the cam, and finally the op-;.

erating lever 40 mounted on and secured to the' square end 33 of the shaft.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have illustrated a modified form of switch stand frame designed particularly for accommodating masts of considerable height.

In this case the housing for the cam and slide bar is identical with that heretofore described but on each side of the cam housing I make hollow bosses 12 of considerably greater diameter than the bosses 10 of Fig. 5 and at the top of 2155 these bosses I2 I provide a nearly annular flange 13. Mounted on one of the flanges 13 is a tubular standard if: terminating at its upper end in a flange T6. Mounted on the flange 13 at the other side of the cam barrel is the foot of the 560 diagonal brace 11 which has at its upper end a flange head 18 mating with the flange 16.

Fig. 10 shows the parts described with the standard at the left-liand side of the barrel and the brace secured at the right-hand side and overlapping the top of the standard, all parts being secured by removable bolts. In the case of a left-hand switch stand, the standard [5 and the brace Tl are interchanged so that the mast will stand at the right-hand side of the barrel in.

beneath it. The connection of the mast to the aosavss scribed, that is to say, by meansof a crank 89 on the lower end of the mast having its roller occupying the bar 90 and secured to the slide bar 59. I The standard and diagonal brace form an effective support for a comparatively tall mast; The brace bar rigidly holds the upper end of the standard which provides the upper bearing :for the mast; The extreme horizontal end of this brace bar may be formed into a step 99 on which the attendant'may readily stand when placing the lamp on the mast. By employing switch stands of the'right and left-hand type, the mast may always be on the far side of the stand with reference to any highwaycrossing, and hence the brace bar will incline in the directionfrom the highway crossing toward the mast, and thus will serve as a shield and deflector for the switch stand proper.

'ploying the left-hand and right-hand type of switch stand respectively. V

In the diagram, and I06 indicate'crossovers from the two main lines to thesidings I01 and H38. These cross-overs also present trailing point switches to the main lines. They are controlled by the switch stands 83,34, SSand S6,

which are of either right or left-hand type, as indicated in the diagram by the letters RH or LH. Finally, the diagram illustrates at H19 various turn-out switches from the two sidings, shown as controlled by the switch stands S7, S8, S9 and SH). These switch stands also are of the right and left-hand type, as indicated.

It will be seen from the diagram that by employing right and left-hand type of switch stands, I am enabled in every case to maintain the switch points tight against the rail normally engaged, the slide bar being under tension and controlled by the operating lever 40 extending always normally away from the highway crossing. It will be noticed also that in each case the banner and banner mast indicated at 60 are on the distant side of the switch stand frame It from'such highway crossing.

It will be seen that my construction in either form illustrated is simple; that the operating mechanism is direct and effective, and the frame so designed as to house the cam and roller, and thoroughly protect all the other moving parts without undue size or weight, and that the change from right to left-hand stand may be readily effected as desired.

By employing such right and left-hand stands, I meet any condition arising in practice, requiring switches between main tracks and passing sidings or between other tracks, and am enabled to have the mast always on the far side of the switch stand with reference to any highway crossing, so that in case of injury to the mast its distortion will not disturb the operating mechanism of the switch stand. Also, as the operating lever may always normally project away from such crossing, it is less liable to be displacedby obstructions encountered at the crossing.

I claim:

1. In a switch stand of the class described, the

combination with-a slide bar, a-cam connected therewith for operating the slide bar, and a banner mast, of a frame'having a housing enclosing both the cam and its connection-to the slide bar,

said frame having an extension adapted to rest 'on a tie and support the housing while providing a space beneath the extension and over the tie,

' within said housing and part outside of the hous ing, the latter part lying in the said space beneath the extension, whereby the extension guards said latter *part from above and the tie guards it from beneath;

2.- In a switch stand of the class describedthe" combination with a slide bar, a cam for operating it, and a banner mast, of a frame having a barrel substantially enclosing the cam and its connection to the slide bar, and having an extension adapted "to rest on a tie and furnish a support for the barrehsaid extension having a cavity on its underside substantially closed by such tie, a crank on the banner' nast lying in the cavity of said extension, normally over such tie, a lateral opening in the wall of the barrel, and an operating member secured to the slide bar and extending from the interior of the barrel through said opening to the crank.

3. In a switch stand of the class described, the

'comb'inationof a barrel, side wings rigidlyconnected therewith and adapted to rest on railway ties in a manner to support the barrel, one of said wings having a recess on its underside at least partially closed by the tie on which it rests, a

and operatively connected with the cam, and mechanism between the slide bar and banner mast, said mechanism including an operating part extending from the bar through an opening in the barrel wall, and a cooperating part connected with the mast, one of said parts occupying a portion of said recess which is closed from below by such tie.

4. In a switch stand of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising a hollow barrel, lateral supports therefor adapted to rest on railway ties, one of said supports having a recess on its under-side bounded by downwardly extending flanges at the opposite ends and one side of the recess, said recess being closed from below by the tie on which the recessed support is adapted to rest, a slide bar extending into the frame, a cam in the frame engaging cooperating means on the slide bar, a banner shaft mounted on the frame and extending into the recess, a crank on the banner shaft located in the recess, and a lateral bar connected to the slide bar extending through a slot in the frame toward said recess and operatively connected with the crank.

5. A switch stand comprising a housing, a spiral cam in the housing, a slide bar adapted to be coupled with a switch point and operatively connected with the cam, extensions on opposite sides of the housing, adapted to rest on railroad ties and .to support the housing, means carried by each extension for interchangeably supporting a banner mast, and an interchangeable connection between said mast and the switch operating mechanism.

6. In a railroad switch stand comprising a hollow housing containing operating mechanism for a switch and a banner mast, the housing having side wings thereon for resting on adjacent ties to support the housing, the combination of a tubular standard on one of the wings arranged to support such mast, and a brace bar having one end rigidly secured to the other wing and the other end rigidly connected to the top of the standard.

7. In a railroad switch stand having a housing containing operating mechanism for a switch and a banner mast, wings on the housing, a standard adapted to support such mast and interchangeably attachable to either wing in a manner to associate the mast with its operating mechanism in either position, and a diagonal brace bar for the standard interchangeably connectible with whichever wing is unoccupied by the standard.

8. In a switch stand, the combination of a housing having a barrel-like portion and a trough-like portion beneath it, supporting wings on opposite sides thereof, a spiral cam in the barrel-like portion, a slide bar extending into the trough-like portion, means on the slide bar engaged by the cam, whereby the cam may operate the slide bar, journals for a banner mast carried by the frame on the opposite sides of the barrel portion of the housing, slots through the side walls of the slide bar trough, a lateral bar adapted to be secured to the slide bar and to extend through either of said slots, and a crank secured to the banner mast in either of said journals and connected to the lateral bar.

9. In a switch stand, the combination of a frame comprising a barrel-like housing with a trough-shaped housing beneath it and lateral supporting wings, slots through the walls of the trough-like portion adjacent the junction of the barrel-like portion, webs connected to the wings and the barrel-like portion of the frame and extending beneath the trough-like portion to brace th same, means for journalling a banner mast on the frame on either side of the barrel portion, a cam in the barrel portion, a slide bar in the trough-like portion, a lateral bar extending from the side bar through one of said slots, and a. crank on the lower end of the banner mast connected to the lateral bar.

10. In a switch stand, the combination of a. frame having a housing and supporting wings on opposite sides thereof, a pair of vertical bosses with external flanges respectively on opposite sides of the housing, a standard having a bottom flange, a brace bar having a bottom flange, said standard and brace bar being interchangeably connected with the respective flanges on the frame at their lower ends, the brace bar and standard being adapted to be connected together at their upper ends, an operating cam and an operated slide bar in the housing, and a connection between the same and a banner mast mounted in the standard.

11. In a switch stand, the combination of a frame having a barrel-like housing with a troughlike housing below it and including wings on opposite sides of said housings, an operating cam in the barrel-like housing, anv operated slide bar associated with the cam, a pair of hollow vertical bosses forming part of the frame on opposite sides of the barrel-like housing, a tubular standard secured at its lower end to one of said bosses, a brace secured at its lower end to the other of said bosses, said standard having an external flange at its upper end and the brace having a head extending over and secured to the flange, and a.

banner mast mounted in the tubular standard and operatively connected with the slide bar and cam.

WALTER S. NEWHALL. 

